The world may have changed but your desire to pursue an MBA has not. If you intend to apply to business school this year, you’d be wise to get to work … now. Don’t wait for new applications to be posted or to take the GMAT or GRE. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic upheaval, more MBA hopefuls will apply this season than in recent past. Based on three decades of advising over 5,000 MBA applicants, The MBA Exchange has some strong advice that merits consideration – and action – starting now!
Here are 3 things you can and should do immediately.
- Review your latest resume/CV.
You probably have some responsibilities, experiences and accomplishments that aren’t reflected in your current resume/CV. Since such things often happen quickly, documenting and describing them may have taken a backseat. Take a step back now and add some notes on your current resume summarizing this additional content before you forget. If the details are already fuzzy, ask a trusted friend or colleague to help you recall the specifics. - Revisit your undergraduate transcript.
It’s human nature to disregard our own frailties, frustrations and disappointments. This includes that sub-par grade from an ill-advised college course you wish you could erase. Well, ignoring that grade won’t help you avoid the critical eye of MBA admissions officers when they scrutinize your transcript. Rather than pretend the class never happened, you should consider how you may be able to mitigate its negative effect while there’s ample time to do so. - Put the GMAT or GRE behind you.
The sooner you achieve your best possible score, the sooner you can finalize your target list of schools and focus on the other elements of your admissions campaign. Have you taken practice or actual tests, read popular prep books, completed prep classes, but still haven’t reached your highest potential? If so, it’s time to start working one-on-one with a skilled test tutor to help you pinpoint and overcome the obstacles to achieving your optimal score.
Bottom line: a longer … better planned … more strategic … less stressful MBA admissions campaign that begins today is more likely to produce a better outcome. Get going on these three steps because in our next blog post, we will share four more actions for you to take!